Victoria Proctor is Miss Keetoowah Cherokee; Alyssia Jones is Junior Miss Keetoowah

Victoria Proctor, 19, of Tahlequah was crowned Miss Keetoowah Cherokee 2009-2010 at the Miss Keetoowah Cherokee pageant Friday, September 18. Miss Proctor is from Tahlequah and attends Northeastern State University. She is a sophomore majoring in Mass Communications and Public Relations. Victoria is a member of the President's Leadership Class; Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority; Riverhawk Ambassador, Northeastern Activities Board; NSU Heart Association; and a Peer Instructor. She was also chosen as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Freshmen. Victoria is of the Long Hair Clan; her parents are Perry and Vickie Proctor.

Alyssia Jones, 14, was crowned Junior Miss Keetoowah Cherokee. Miss Jones is from Stilwell, Oklahoma and is in the ninth grade at Sequoyah High School. She is of the Deer Clan and is the daughter of Amanda Jones and David Scott. Reba Vann is her guardian. Amanda has six brothers and sisters; her favorite subject is Algebra I and she likes to run cross country. Her future goal is to go to college and work toward becoming a veterinarian and an artist.

The event officially kicked off the 59th Annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration, which will be held Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3 in Tahlequah. The celebration theme is "Keetoowah Cherokee Traditions - 1859-2009 - And Still the Sacred Fire Burns".

The contestants were required to perform in the categories to exhibit their qualifications. Categories included the introduction and traditional dress, a platform presentation that will be the focus of the candidates reign, a talent performance, a question and answer portion dealing with Keetoowah Cherokee culture, language, and an impromptu question.

Miss Proctor's platform presentation was on Special Education/Special Olympics and for her talent she played "Fur Elise" by Beethoven on the piano keyboard. Miss Jones' essay was titled "My Grandma - Our Traditions are Still Alive and for her talent she sang a hymn in her native language, "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be".

Miss Angeleah Vann of Stilwell, Oklahoma was voted Miss Congeniality by Miss and Jr. Miss Keetoowah Cherokee Contestants. Former royalty includes the former Junior Miss Keetoowah Cherokee 2005 Jordan Barr, 2006 Kayeha Hooper, 2007 Rozlyn Locust and 2008 Kristy Feather Daugherty; and former Miss Keetoowah Cherokee 2006 Felicia Jones, 2007 Pawnee Crabtree, and 2008 Samantha Keen.

The role of Miss and Jr. Miss Keetoowah Cherokee is to serve as good will ambassadors for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma and to serve as a messenger to promote the culture, traditions and heritage of the Keetoowah Cherokee people.